Re: Stores open on Thanksgiving?

guatmum · ‎03-11-2010

On 11/28/2014 Deb1010again said:
Jewish people are used to working on Hanukkah, Passover, Yom Kippur, and other high holy days. There are holidays for other religions that are not observed either.

To single out retail as somehow special when other professions work 24/7/365, and at the most profitable time of the year is just not realistic, IMO. There were quite a few years where stores were closed, but times have changed. We WANT people to shop on Thanksgiving because it strengthens our economy -- it's good for US.

Just an FYI, Thanksgiving is not a Christian holiday. It is a patriotic holiday. And Christians are used to working on every high holiday except for Christmas and recently Christmas has been added as a working day too. So, your comparison is outdated.

Shopping on Thanksgiving or on Black Friday is good for the stores because the prices and "deals" are actually NOT the best they will be during this season. They create a sense of urgency (just like the shopping channels with their "Better be quick, there's only x number left!" routine). This sense of urgency is ramped up by the race to see which store will open first. When shoppers get a brain and start to realize this, opening on FAMILY holidays will no longer be such a problem because the shopping population will decrease dramatically. The idea that shopping on a particular day is good for the economy is silly because it is SUSTAINED profits, not one-day profits, that helps the economy. Those sustained profits must also be passed onto the employees rather than staying predominantly at the top. The top just pack their "extra" profits away in savings which does nothing for the economy. The "little people" actually take the increase in money and spend it which then further strengthens the economy.

ms traditional · ‎03-09-2010

for retailers like JCP and Sears, getting a good portion of the shopper's budget is important for their survival. that has an influence on the economy since jobs are in the mix, benefits, etc. therefore their bid to get people in first is more than being competitive.

glb613 · ‎03-09-2010

On 11/27/2014 terrier3 said:
On 11/27/2014 happy housewife said:
I am fairly certain, if they are of normal intelligence,that anyone entering the field of retail sales knows when they do that they are going to be working Thanksgiving PM and black friday. That stores are open at those times is no secret.

Recently hired employees, yes.

But Thanksgiving hours just started a few years ago.

So what? If you want a job, you work the hours.

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

On 11/28/2014 glb613 said:
On 11/27/2014 terrier3 said:
Recently hired employees, yes.

But Thanksgiving hours just started a few years ago.

So what? If you want a job, you work the hours.

...and if you disagree with the policy, like I do, stay home and DON"T SHOP at stores that started hours on Thursday. Scenes from our local mall (which attracts about 50% of shoppers from Canada) showed steady traffic, but nothing like usual Midnight Black Friday lines.

Money talks...

RubyinNE · ‎03-10-2010

QVC was open on Thanksgiving. I didn't like that either. It wasn't just the hosts who had to be away from their families.

bells4me · ‎03-13-2010

We had dinner at 2:00, then the girls went shopping with everyone else in town. I didn't hear one complaint from any of the gals I know that were working retail. Most were glad to have the holiday pay. Better than sitting at home cleaning up & watching football. My son-in-law & granddaughter's fiancé offered to do the dishes. I just wish people would leave their kids at home.

Plaid Pants · ‎11-03-2014

Guess what? The earth is still rotating on its axis. The sun still came up today, and the world did not end, just because stores were open yesterday.

Yes, I went to one store yesterday, Kohl's. They opened at 6 p.m. There was a line outside the door, waiting for it to open. Everyone behaved themselves. There was no pushing, shoving, fighting.

I got 4 pillows, a bath mat, and a pair of slipper socks.

I think the reason why there were not as many people out shopping today, is because they were all out shopping yesterday.

Face it, the days of the Norman Rockwell thanksgiving are over. They are not going to come back. This is how it's going to be from now on.

I'm waiting for the time when stores open at midnight thanksgiving day.

stevieb · ‎03-10-2010

On 11/28/2014 guatmum said:
On 11/28/2014 Deb1010again said:
Jewish people are used to working on Hanukkah, Passover, Yom Kippur, and other high holy days. There are holidays for other religions that are not observed either.

To single out retail as somehow special when other professions work 24/7/365, and at the most profitable time of the year is just not realistic, IMO. There were quite a few years where stores were closed, but times have changed. We WANT people to shop on Thanksgiving because it strengthens our economy -- it's good for US.

Just an FYI, Thanksgiving is not a Christian holiday. It is a patriotic holiday. And Christians are used to working on every high holiday except for Christmas and recently Christmas has been added as a working day too. So, your comparison is outdated.

Shopping on Thanksgiving or on Black Friday is good for the stores because the prices and "deals" are actually NOT the best they will be during this season. They create a sense of urgency (just like the shopping channels with their "Better be quick, there's only x number left!" routine). This sense of urgency is ramped up by the race to see which store will open first. When shoppers get a brain and start to realize this, opening on FAMILY holidays will no longer be such a problem because the shopping population will decrease dramatically. The idea that shopping on a particular day is good for the economy is silly because it is SUSTAINED profits, not one-day profits, that helps the economy. Those sustained profits must also be passed onto the employees rather than staying predominantly at the top. The top just pack their "extra" profits away in savings which does nothing for the economy. The "little people" actually take the increase in money and spend it which then further strengthens the economy.

I guess I don't see Thanksgiving as a 'patriotic' holiday...

In my pantry with my cupcakes...